WICHITA, Kan. -- Washburn battled early but a five-run seventh inning was the difference as they fell 14-8 to Wichita State in Eck Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The Ichabods stay on the road for three games with Missouri Western beginning Thursday at 3 p.m.
The Shockers (20-10) got on the board first, scoring one in the bottom of the first on a one-out walk and single up the middle with two outs. Washburn (12-20) evened the score in the top of the second with Eli Dean lifting his first career home run over the wall in left field to tie the game.
Wichita State strung together four hits in the bottom of the second to score three runs and go back out in front. The Ichabods loaded the bases in the third inning on three walks. With two outs Jackson Mervosh beat out an infield single to score one run. Two more came around to score on an error in the field to tie the game up at four.
Fidel Hatch took over on the mound in the third inning and escaped a bases loaded no outs jam. He tossed a scoreless fourth inning as the score remained the same. In the fifth inning the Shockers loaded the bases on a walk and two singles. A sacrifice fly scored one, with another coming home on a groundout and a third by stealing home to go up 7-4.
Mervosh led off with a double in the sixth and would come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brooks Richardson to cut into the deficit. Griffin Huiatt delivered a scoreless sixth and Washburn plated another run in the seventh on a single by Levi Risenhoover scoring Ian Luce, making it a 7-6 game.
In the home half of the seventh Wichita State scored one on an error, walk and single. They loaded the bases with one out and hit a grand slam, boosting the lead to 12-6. A pair of walks came around to score for the Shockers in the eighth.
Washburn made some noise in the ninth as Luce tripled to score Trenton Barry who led off with a single. Risenhoover drove Luce home again, this time with a sacrifice fly. An error extended the inning and singles by Mervosh and Dean scored one. Garrett Springer followed with a double that plated both of them. The five-run ninth wasn't enough as the Ichabods fell 14-11.
The Shockers led 14-11 in hits as well as10-3 in walks drawn at the plate. Eight players took the mound for Washburn combining for five strikeouts. Fidel Hatch and Griffin Huiatt each tossed two innings scoreless in relief. Mark Hoffman went two innings after getting the start.
At the plate Eli Dean and Jackson Mervosh each went 3-5. Dean plated two and blasted a home run. Trenton Barry managed two hits from the leadoff spot and Garrett Springer drove in two off the bench.
